Henry

Pronunciation: [ h-EHNR-ee ]

Boy Name #6 Most Popular Rising 2 Syllables

Eight kings and still counting — royalty never goes out of style

English French German

Royal Classic Strong Traditional

Meaning & Origin

"home ruler, estate ruler"

Origin: Germanic

Language: English

"ruler of the homeland"

Origin: Old High German

Language: German

The Story of Henry

Henry comes from the Germanic 'Heimrich,' composed of 'heim' (home) and 'ric' (ruler, power) — meaning ruler of the home or estate. Brought to England by the Normans as Henri, it became the quintessential royal name. Eight kings of England were named Henry, including Henry V (Shakespeare's heroic king) and Henry VIII (notorious for his six wives), making it the most dynastically dominant name in British history.

Henry has been climbing back into the US top 10, reflecting the broader revival of vintage royal names. Prince Harry — born Henry Charles Albert David — keeps it in the royal spotlight, and the beloved Henry engine in Thomas and Friends endears it to a new generation of children.

Eight English kings bore this name, more than any other. In France, four kings were named Henri. The name carries additional literary prestige through O. Henry (William Sydney Porter), one of America's most beloved short story writers, and Henry David Thoreau, the transcendentalist philosopher.

Fun Facts

Eight kings of England were named Henry, more than any other name
Prince Harry's full given name is Henry Charles Albert David
Hank is a medieval nickname for Henry, through the rhyming nickname chain Henry to Harry to Hank

Henry in Other Languages

French Henri

German Heinrich

Italian Enrico

Spanish Enrique

Portuguese Henrique

Famous People Named Henry

Prince Harry

Royalty

1984

Duke of Sussex, born Henry Charles Albert David, younger son of King Charles III

Henry Ford

Business

1863

American industrialist who founded Ford Motor Company and pioneered assembly line manufacturing

Henry David Thoreau

Writer

1817

American transcendentalist philosopher and author of Walden

Henry VIII

Royalty

1491

King of England who founded the Church of England and famously had six wives

Henry Higgins Fictional

Other

Phonetics professor protagonist of George Bernard Shaw's Pygmalion and the musical My Fair Lady

Quick Facts

Gender: Boy
Syllables: 2
Popularity Rank: #6
Total SSA Count: 11,547
Cultural Origins: English French German
Pronunciation: Easy
Formality: Formal
Cross-Cultural Ease: High

Alternative Spellings

Henrik #921 Henri #1593 Henryk #3585 Henrique #3660 Henrry #4617

Common Nicknames

Hank Harry Hal Hen

Pairs Well With

Henry James Henry William Henry Thomas Henry Alexander Henry John Henry Oliver Henry Edward

Sibling Names

Charlotte Eleanor Amelia Olivia Oliver Theodore William

Also a Girl Name

Henry is also used as a girl name, ranked #8070.

View Henry as a girl name →

Similar Names

Harvey Harley Harrison Hardy Larry Avery Gary Barry

Playground Safety

Kid-Friendly

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Frequently Asked Questions About Henry

What does the name Henry mean?

"home ruler, estate ruler" (from Germanic). "ruler of the homeland" (from Old High German). Henry comes from the Germanic 'Heimrich,' composed of 'heim' (home) and 'ric' (ruler, power) — meaning ruler of the home or estate. Brought to England by the Normans as Henri, it became the quintessential royal name. Eight kings of England were named Henry, including Henry V (Shakespeare's heroic king) and Henry VIII (notorious for his six wives), making it the most dynastically dominant name in British history.

What is the origin of the name Henry?

Henry has Germanic, Old High German, English, French, and German origins. In Germanic, it means "home ruler, estate ruler". In Old High German, it means "ruler of the homeland".

Is Henry a boy or girl name?

Henry is used as both a boy and girl name. As a boy name, it is ranked #6. As a girl name, it is ranked #8070. Henry is more commonly used as a boy name.

How do you pronounce Henry?

Henry is pronounced h-EHNR-ee.

How popular is the name Henry?

Henry is currently ranked #6 in popularity for boy names in the United States.

What are common nicknames for Henry?

Common nicknames for Henry include Hank, Harry, Hal, and Hen.

What are good middle names for Henry?

Popular middle name pairings include Henry James, Henry William, Henry Thomas, Henry Alexander, Henry John, Henry Oliver, and Henry Edward.

What are good sibling names for Henry?

Names that pair well with Henry as siblings include Charlotte, Eleanor, Amelia, Olivia, Oliver, Theodore, and William.

How many syllables does Henry have?

Henry has 2 syllables, making it easy to say and remember.

Is Henry a common or rare name?

Henry is a very popular name, ranked #6 among boy names in the United States.

About the Name Henry

Henry is a boy name with English, French, and German origins . The name means "home ruler, estate ruler" in Germanic .

Is Henry a boy or girl name? Henry is used as both a boy and girl name. As a boy name, it ranks #6 in popularity. As a girl name, it ranks #8,070. Henry is more commonly used as a boy name.